At the beginning of the 11th hour, also known as Dinghun.
It roughly corresponds to 9 o'clock in the evening.
At this time, the night is deep, people are quiet, and the lights of everyone's homes have long been extinguished. Everything else has also entered its early stage of rest.
"I made a lot of money today."
"Ha ha, I have saved a lot of money over these years. When I return to my hometown after five years and become a rich man, Li Shidi, what do you want to do after you return from the mountain?"
"Zhang brother, I should marry a wife and start a family."
The four traveled together back to the mountain gate.
Although Lin Chen, Zhang Gan, and Li Si suffered varying degrees of injuries, they were all excited due to the money they had earned.
Without hesitation, upon putting away the Jiamaha symbols, the three of them began chatting non-stop.
Chen Yun didn't say anything, but in her heart, she was also somewhat happy.
Including the small gold beads she found, she currently has 8.5 jin of gold.
It should be enough to buy quite a bit of medicinal herbs.
Chen Yun and the others had different considerations; the sole purpose of making money was to help her pursue longevity and enlightenment.
The formative, vital, and spirit-transmuting formulas in《Da Lu Ling Tang》require a lot of medicinal herbs.
The main ingredients are usually unavailable for purchase.
As for the remaining auxiliary herbs, most of them can be bought with money.
Some of the medicinal herbs are very precious and require not a little silver.
For example, when Chen Yun completes the foundation refining stage and is ready to refine the inner organs into essence, she will need Lingzhi in the essence refining soup.
In her previous life, Lingzhi could be cultivated artificially, making it relatively inexpensive.
However, in this society similar to ancient China, the price of a pound of Level 4 Lingzhi is as high as 200 to 500 silver coins.
The most superior Jia level Lingzhi is at least 1,000 silver coins, and up to several thousand silver coins per pound is not uncommon.
Of course, Chen Yun needs to save up some money to try and purchase some good quality Lingzhi.
The crowd chatted and walked in together.
Li Si suddenly said, "Master Lin, here is the Jiamaha symbol back to you."
Lin Chen waved his hand and said, "It's a gift to all of you brothers."
Zhang Gan couldn't help but exclaim, "The Jiamaha symbol can travel a total of one thousand and eight hundred miles, only to self-combust at its limit. Such precious items are given away without hesitation. Master Lin, you are indeed a generous person."
Oh.
It turns out that the Jiamaha symbol can travel a total of one thousand and eight hundred miles.
Chen Yun said thank you and carefully put away the Jiamaha symbol.
Just as he put away the Jiamaha symbol, he suddenly thought of the more precious Zhongkui talisman he had found at the Wu family's courtyard previously.
Using the Jiamaha symbol to travel quickly was impossible to speak, let alone return it.
Now that he was free, Chen Yun prepared to take out the talisman to return it. "Master Lin, your……"
He didn't finish his sentence.
Just as Lin Chen had passed through the mountain gate, his face suddenly changed, and he exclaimed, "Damn!"
Chen Yun thought Lin Chen had found the Zhongkui symbol missing and was about to say it was on him.
But to Chen Yun's surprise, Zhang Gan also said with a wry smile, "It's all ruined, we're going to get scolded!"
Although Li Si didn't say anything, his facial expression wasn't particularly good either.
Chen Yun hadn't reacted at first, but as he followed the gazes of the three men toward the inside of the Daoist temple, he finally realized what had happened.
The main hall, located in the center of the temple, was now brightly lit.
The main hall inside the temple was dedicated to three gods: Taiyang Laozu, Dong Wangong, and Zhengyang Ganwu Zhaodao Zhenren, respectively corresponding to Laozi, Wang Xuanfu, and Zhongli Quan.
Chen Yun has known these for more than twenty days since he entered the Daoist temple.
However, the hall was usually only open in the morning, and the long workers were not allowed in. Only the four official disciples of Zhongli Quan who Chen Yun had not met before—Wang Laozhi, Zheng Wenshu, Wang Zixi, and Cai Rujin—were allowed to enter.
How can the hall be lit up at the beginning of the eleventh hour?
Clearly, either something significant has happened, or someone is waiting for them.
Chen Yun estimated that the latter possibility was more likely.
After all, they are doing private jobs outside, and no one knows about it.
If Wang Laozhi and Zheng Wenshu found out that the group is taking private jobs under the name of Daoist temple without making any cuts, it would be a surprise.
Sure enough, we're in for a rough night.
It could be that this disturbance caused him to forget to return the Zhongkui symbol again.
……
The four of them entered the hall with apprehension.
As expected, Wang Zixi and an elderly Daoist with a bearded goat standing at the door of the main hall before Chen Yun had even entered.
"Wang Brother."
"Cai Brother."
Chen Yun followed Lin Chen, Zhang Gan, and Li Si to greet them.
After the greetings, he found out that the bearded goat Daoist was Cai Rujin, the disciple of Zheng Wenshu.
Wang Zixi looked around at the four of them expressionlessly, "Come with me. My teacher and my uncle are waiting for you."
Cai Rujin looked at Lin Chen for a long time before sighing and shaking his head before turning and entering the main hall.
Having confirmed they were waiting for them, Lin Chen, Zhang Gan, and Li Si's faces became even more unpleasant.
Chen Yun lowered his head and said nothing, pondering what kind of punishment they might receive.
Entering the main hall.
Chen Yun saw that Wang Laozhi and Zheng Wenshu were seated on chairs next to the altar, one on the left and one on the right.
Their expressions showed no sign of joy or anger.
Upon entering, Wang Zixi and Cai Rujin stood respectively to the left of their respective teachers' chairs.
"Greeting Master Zheng, Master Wang."
"Greeting Master Zheng, Master Wang."
Chen Yun and the others greeted in unison.
Wang Laozhi, who usually was amiable, suddenly changed his demeanor and coldly snorted, "How bold you all are!"
Yes, Wang Laozhi and Zheng Wenshu had known about Chen Yun, Lin Chen, and the others going down the mountain to drive out evil spirits for others. That's why they were waiting for them here.
Actually, Wang Laozhi and Zheng Wenshu usually turned a blind eye to such matters.
After all, everyone would be dismissed from the Daoist temple after five years of work. It was reasonable for them to make some money on the side in their spare time using their own skills.
However, recently Wang Laozhi had seen that Chen Yun had considerable talent and was thinking of taking him as a disciple. Therefore, he had been very attentive.
That's why today when everyone went down the mountain and encountered danger at Wu Family's courtyard, all of it was within Wang Laozhi's sight, as he had been keeping an eye on them.
If it wasn't for Chen Yun's quick thinking, all four of them would have been wiped out today.
Naturally, it would be strange if Wang Laozhi didn't give everyone trouble.
Pfft!
Lin Chen didn't hesitate to kneel down and shouted in response, "Master Wang, the blame for this lies with me. It has nothing to do with Master Zhang, Master Li, or Master Chen. I was blinded by greed and afraid that I lacked the strength to drive out evil spirits, so I dragged them along with me. If you are going to punish someone, please punish only me."
Zhang Gan and Li Si were quite taken aback.
Chen Yun didn't expect Lin Chen to be so generous. They all made money together, but the blame for this was shouldered by one person.
Although he didn't want to be punished, how could he show no gratitude when others were so generous?
Chen Yun, without even thinking, said, "Master Wang, this matter involves me……”
"Shut up!" Wang Laozhi interrupted Chen Yun's words, pointing to the left direction with his finger, "You all go stand over there first. I will talk to you all slowly later!"
Chen Yun was helpless and had to stand to the left.
Zhang Gan and Li Si did the same.
Wang Laozhi looked at Lin Chen and said, "I ask you, what is wrong? If you can answer, I can give you a little punishment today. But if you can't answer, you will have to leave here. My temple is small and cannot accommodate such a big figure like you!"
Hearing that he would be forced to leave, Lin Chen's forehead was covered with fine sweat.
After a moment of thought, he said, "I shouldn't have learned my skills insufficiently and taken on private work under the name of the temple. If it's not successful, it will be an embarrassment to our ancestor."
Chen Yun furrowed his brow and answered wrong!
Sure enough, Wang Laozhi shook his head with disappointment, "What's important about face? Don't you know that human life is more important than heaven? Fine, Zixi, take fifty taels of silver. Let him leave immediately tonight."
Lin Chen wanted to say something more, "Master Wang, I..."
"Go out." Wang Laozhi waved his hand indifferently, clearly not prepared to let Lin Chen continue speaking.
Lin Chen's eyes were red, but he knew that Wang Laozhi had made up his mind, and there was no use saying anything anymore.
He could only kneel on the ground and bow deeply to Wang Laozhi and Zheng Wenshu, "Lin Chen has been in the Daoist temple for over four years. Thank you, Masters Wang and Zheng, for your many kindnesses. Tonight, I will be leaving the temple. I hope you both take good care of yourselves."
After saying that, Lin Chen stood up and walked out.
Wang Zixi was going to get the silver.
At this moment, Cai Rujin suddenly spoke up, "Teacher, I want to accompany Lin brother on his journey down the mountain."
Zheng Wenshu, who had been silent all along, nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you two get along well. This parting may be the last time we see each other. Go and accompany him on his journey down the mountain."
Having said that, Cai Rujin went out.
Seeing this, Chen Yun felt a chill in his heart, knowing that Wang Laozhi was truly angry this time.
"And you three as well." Wang Laozhi looked towards the three of them, "Heavy punishment can be avoided, but light punishment is hard to escape."
Chen Yun knew that now was not the time to provoke Wang Laozhi's wrath. He stepped forward and bowed with a hand, "Chen Yun, is willing to accept punishment."
"Master Wang, I am wrong."
"I will not do it again."
Zhang Gan and Li Shi hung their heads dejectedly.
Wang Laozhi said, "Zhang Gan and Li Shi, considering that you are first-time offenders, I will fine you three months of your regular allowance. If you do it again next time, you will be kicked out of the temple just like Lin Chen."
The punishment was not too severe.
Zhang Gan quickly said, "Gan accepts the punishment."
Li Shi also quickly said, "Thank you, Master Wang, for your magnanimity."
Chen Yun didn't know what kind of punishment he would receive, so he stood there quietly waiting.
Wang Laozhi stared at Chen Yun for a good half-hour, before slowly opening his mouth and saying, "Chen Yun, although you are also a first-time offender, you have saved people's lives. It can be considered that your good deeds outweigh your wrongdoings. However, I'm afraid that you might still commit the same mistake if not given a proper punishment. So, instead of punishing you severely, I will sentence you to confinement for half a month. What do you think about this?"
Hmm?
To brush it off so lightly?
Chen Yun was actually afraid that Wang Laozhi would send him down the mountain earlier.
At this moment, hearing the barely meaningful punishment, how could there be any objection?
He hurriedly said, "Master Wang, Chen acknowledges his mistake and has no objections."
"Alright, after a night of hard work, all of you go rest."
After speaking, Wang Laozhi stood up and walked out.
Wang Zixi followed closely behind.
At this time, Zheng Wenshu also stood up and came to Chen Yun's front.
Chen Yun was just about to step aside.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Wenshu winked at him and said meaningfully with a knowing smile, "How about the tranquilizing talisman? Is it working well?"
Ah?
What does this mean?
As the senior master to Wang Laozhi, Zheng Wenshu also had a profound cultivation and was mysterious in his abilities.
Knowing that he used a tranquilizing talisman in the guest house is not strange at all.
What puzzled Chen Yun was that Zheng Wenshu's words seemed to imply that he had given the tranquilizing talisman earlier knowing that today's scene would happen.
Though he couldn't make sense of it, he still thanked Zheng Wenshu, "Thank you, Master Zheng. Without the tranquilizing talisman, I would have been in danger."
"Hahahah."
Zheng Wenshu left with a hearty laugh.
After everyone had left, Chen Yun turned his head to his side, "Master Zhang, Master Li, let's go and see Lin brother off down the mountain."
He was also thinking about returning the Zhongkuiju talisman.
"Alright."
"Let's accompany him."
Zhang Gan and Li Si naturally had no objections. It was reasonable for them to accompany him, as they all made money together, but Lin Chen had to bear the heavy punishment alone.
The three of them walked out of the hall.
As they stepped out of the hall, Chen Yun saw a auspicious cloud carrying Cai Rujin and Lin Chen away.
Chen Yun: "……"
Well, it seems that the Zhongkuiju talisman is not going to be returned now.
Although the Zhongkuiju talisman is very precious, Chen Yun really didn't intend to keep it for himself.
Just now, when Lin Chen left, whether or not Chen Yun will ever meet him again is uncertain. The Zhongkuiju talisman seems to have to stay behind.
Even though they had been together for a short time, Chen Yun couldn't help but feel somewhat sad at Lin Chen's departure.
Chen Yun felt a mix of contemplation and sighs.
Today, I lost a tranquilizing talisman.
Unexpectedly, in the end, I received the Jiamazhi and Zhongkuiju talismans.
He didn't know whether to be happy or sad, for Lin Chen was sent away.
